Baylor Accounting and Forvis Mazars Launch Summer Faculty Research Fund

The Department of Accounting and Business Law at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business is proud to announce a new partnership with Forvis Mazars through the establishment of the Forvis Mazars Summer Faculty Research Fund. This fund, created in 2025, represents Forvis Mazars’ commitment to advancing thought leadership in the accounting profession.

The fund is designed to provide summer research support for Baylor accounting faculty, enabling them to pursue projects that shape both scholarship and practice. As part of the initiative, faculty will be encouraged to present their work to Forvis Mazars leadership each fall, fostering meaningful dialogue and sparking new opportunities for collaboration between academia and the profession. These exchanges not only advance knowledge but also strengthen connections that can influence practice, policy, and the preparation of future accounting leaders.

“Our faculty are passionate about research that shapes both scholarship and practice,” said Rebecca Files, PhD, department chair. “Our partnership with Forvis Mazars will help us recruit and retain excellent faculty, provide enhanced learning and leadership opportunities for our students, and ensure that Baylor has a seat at the table in the most important conversations in our profession — where we can bring a distinctively Christian perspective.” 

Forvis Mazars leadership echoed this vision, noting that the partnership reflects the firm’s emphasis on thought leadership and its desire to prepare the next generation of accounting leaders.

“We are honored to support Baylor accounting faculty by establishing the Forvis Mazars Summer Faculty Research Fund,” said Kimberly McKay, southwest regional managing partner. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to advancing academic excellence and fostering innovative research. We look forward to seeing the remarkable contributions that the faculty’s work will bring to the accounting profession.”

Forvis Mazars is a leading global professional services firm founded in 1923. Ranked among the largest public accounting and consulting firms in the United States, its more than 7,000 team members serve clients in all 50 states and internationally through the Forvis Mazars global network. 

Baylor Accounting looks forward to celebrating the first faculty recipients of the fund in 2026 and to highlighting the impact of their work.